Ford bulletin SSM 55073
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Aug 10, 2026, received Aug 11, 2026, about the unknown or other. It names 6 model years (2021–2026). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationSome 2021-2026 Bronco vehicles may require the removal and installation of the transfer case for various reasons. Installation requires Loctite® 243 adhesive applied to the mounting bolt threads in the transmission. Make sure that the mating faces are clean and dry. Tightening the mounting bolts also requires an updated two-stage tightening sequence. Workshop Manual (WSM), Sections 307-07C/D and 308-07C/D Installation > Transfer Case have been updated to reflect this change.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 55073 | Service bulletin | Aug 10, 2026 | 11036108 |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5; the full text comes from the manufacturer or a dealer. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. Quote it at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford SSM 55073 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SSM 55073 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SSM 55073 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 6 model years: 2026 Ford Bronco, 2025 Ford Bronco, 2024 Ford Bronco, 2023 Ford Bronco, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2021 Ford Bronco. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.